NRL Statement regarding the Sin Bin

The NRL has today reaffirmed that Match Officials will continue to sin-bin players who engage in fighting.

"Fighting and punching have always been outside the rules," NRL Referees Elite Performance Manager, Mr Daniel Anderson, said today."The message is clear to players and coaches that anyone throwing punches will face time in the sin-bin.

"The fact that two players were charged from last night gives some weight to the decisions of the referees on the field in relation to them.

"One can argue the merits of the other two decisions and I will be discussing those further with the referees involved, but people who escalate situations by pushing and shoving or by ‘running in’ from a distance have to accept that they are taking a huge risk and that won’t change."The NRL has today reaffirmed that Match Officials will continue to sin-bin players who engage in fighting.

"Fighting and punching have always been outside the rules," NRL Referees Elite Performance Manager, Mr Daniel Anderson, said today."The message is clear to players and coaches that anyone throwing punches will face time in the sin-bin.

"The fact that two players were charged from last night gives some weight to the decisions of the referees on the field in relation to them.

"One can argue the merits of the other two decisions and I will be discussing those further with the referees involved, but people who escalate situations by pushing and shoving or by ‘running in’ from a distance have to accept that they are taking a huge risk and that won’t change."